LIBERTY COUNTY, Fla. (WTXL) - A 12-year-old has been arrested after threatening to shoot up a Liberty County middle school on Wednesday.
The Liberty County Sheriff's Office says they received information from administrators at W.R. Tolar K-8 School Wednesday morning about a possible threat of violence toward students and staff at the school.
The resource deputy on duty was immediately notified and the sheriff's office responded to the scene. Based on the nature of the threat and individuals involved, the middle school portion of the school was placed on lock-down.
Investigators quickly learned the identity of the 12-year-old 7th grade student who made the threat and detained that student. As a precautionary measure, deputies established a protective perimeter around the school during their investigation.
When deputies searched the school, they didn't find any weapons on campus.
Through interviewing these students, investigators confirmed the suspect had threatened to shoot up the school on Wednesday. Deputies also interviewed the 12-year-old suspect, who admitted to making the threat.
The juvenile suspect was arrested and charged for disruption of a school function.
"The Liberty County Sheriff’s Office and Liberty County School Board is committed to making every effort to ensure the safety of students and staff at our public schools. In today’s age, no threat of violence can be taken lightly," officials wrote in a Facebook post. "The Sheriff’s Office would like to remind everyone that threats of this nature are a very serious matter. Anyone who receives information regarding a threat to one of our schools should contact the school administration and the Liberty County Sheriff’s Office immediately and report the threat."
Deputies did not identify the 12-year-old suspect.
This is one of three Wednesday incidents involving violent threats toward schools in the Big Bend.
The other two incidents happened in Leon County, one involving two students and another involving a single high school student.
